@VICCOLLEGELIFE

〰️ BHM UPDATES

@VICCOLLEGELIFE 〰️ BHM UPDATES

BHM EVENTS @ VIC

 

Monday Feb. 2

CommuniTea Listening Party
1 - 3 p.m. | Wendy Cecil Atrium, Goldring Student Centre


WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4

Movie Screening: Moonlight (2016), Dir. Barry Jenkins
3:00 - 5:30 p.m. | The Cat’s Eye, Goldring Student Centre

  • Part of our 28 Days of Black Cinema, the theme of Week 1 is Love.


THURSDAY, FEB. 5

Mobile Rest Space
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | Music Room, Goldring Student Centre

  • The Hart House Well-being Collective is bringing their Mobile Rest Space to Victoria College. Check out our transformed Music Room to rest, recharge, and unwind.

Sound Bath
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | Music Room, Goldring Student Centre

  • Hart House is bringing a Sound Bath to Vic with Miss Daisy, a certified yoga teacher, multidisciplinary artist, and wellness facilitator based in Toronto. Rest is Resistance, and we invite you to come and take a breath with us.


MONDAY, FEB. 9

Opening of 2nd Floor Exhibit - What’s Vic Reading
All Day | E.J. Pratt Library

  • Visit the 2nd Floor of Pratt Library to see books that the Vic Community is reading and has recommended for Black History Month. Contribute to our community reading list here.


Tuesday, Feb. 10

Self Care Fair
12 - 1 P.M. | Wendy Cecil Atrium, Goldring Student Centre

  • Pick up self-care items during Gather in the Goldring to boost your winter self-care! Hair care, teas, snacks, and more!

Movie Screening: One of Them Days (2025), Dir. Lawrence Lemont
4:30 - 6:30 P.M. | The Cat’s Eye

  • Part of our 28 Days of Black Cinema, the theme of Week 2 is Community.


Wednesday, Feb 11

Reading Party
3 - 5 P.M. | Commuter Lounge, Goldring Student Centre

  • Join the Senior Well-being Don to sit, have a warm tea or coffee, and read for fun! Bring your own book, borrow a book from our collection, or see if you win a book raffle giveaway! It’s time to give ourselves a break, and read for fun, together.


FEB. 13 TO FEB.15

VCDS Present: Stick Fly, by Lydia R Diamond

  • Performances February 13-15th (varying showtimes) at the Theatre Passe Muraille.

  • Please note that the performance on February 14th at 7:30pm is Black Out Night, a performance dedicated to our Black audience and community. Our intent is to facilitate an inclusive and welcoming space for Black theatre-goers to join in our celebration of Black artists and stories.

  • For more information, please visit https://www.passemuraille.ca/blackoutperformances/


Feb. 16 to Feb. 20

It’s Reading Week!

  • Check out the “At your own pace” section below to listen to our community playlist, follow along for the 28 Days of Black Cinema challenge, or to share and get inspiration for your reading list.

  • Interested in exploring new places in Toronto? We’ve got recommendations for Black-owned self-care businesses, restaurants, cafes, and bookstores!


Bata Shoe Museum - Black History Exhibition
12 - 3 P.M. | Meet outside of Annesley Hall Residence

SATURDAY, Feb. 21


Tuesday, Feb. 24

Afro-Caribbean Food Fair
12 - 1 P.M. | Wendy Cecil Atrium, Goldring Student Centre

  • Join Transition Mentors at Gather in the Goldring, where we will have Afro-Caribbean food, with free specialty snacks and treats.

Movie Screening: Sinners (2025), Dir. Ryan Coogler
8 - 10 P.M. | The Cat’s Eye

  • Part of our 28 Days of Black Cinema, the theme of Week 4 is Music & Futurism


Wednesday, Feb. 25

Afro-Caribbean Food Fair
12 - 1 P.M. | Wendy Cecil Atrium, Goldring Student Centre

  • Join International Mentors at Gather in the Goldring, where we will have Afro-Caribbean food, with free specialty snacks and treats.

Black Comedy Showcase feat. Steel Pan
6:30 PM | Isabel Bader Theatre


Black Staff & Student Networking
11 - 12 P.M. | Wymilwood Lounge, Goldring Student Centre

  • Join staff from the Office of the Dean of Students (Sean Martin), Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising (Imani King and Jade Hazell), Health and Wellness (Deshawna Dookie), and medical education mentor Damilola Oguntala to learn about their career paths.

Vic U Community Afro-Caribbean Food Fair
12 - 2 P.M. | Wendy Cecil Atrium, Goldring Student Centre

  • Join Commuter Dons, Vic U Staff, Faculty, Librarians and your fellow students at Gather in the Goldring, where we will have Afro-Caribbean food, with free specialty snacks and treats.

Thursday, Feb. 26

 

AT YOUR OWN PACE

 
 

community spotify list

Click here to add to the Vic Community playlist!

Click here to listen to the playlist on Spotify!

community booklist

Click here to submit your recommendations to The Black Bookshelf initiative!

Click here to participate in a Black reading bingo challenge. Send us your completed bingo card to win a prize!

RESOURCES AT VIC AND U OF T

 

AWARDS @ VIC


AWARDS @
U OF T

U OF T AWARD EXPLORER

Filter “Black Students”


Black History 365

BLACK HISTORY 365

Check out U of T’s Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office calendar for Black History events all year round.

Resources IN THE COMMUNITY

 

BLACK-OWNED RESTAURANTS & CAFÉS

Mary’s Brigadeiro
Location:
1912 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON, M4C 1J4
Main Focus: Handmade chocolate
Bonus: Great hot chocolate!

Boukan
Location:
774 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON M4J 1L5
Main Focus: Haitian street food Bonus: Open mic performances also!

The Heartbreak Chef
Location:
170 Baldwin St, Toronto ON M5T 1L8
Main Focus: Sandwiches
Bonus: Arcade games, comedy nights, open mic

Roywoods
Location:
Multiple locations
Main Focus: Caribbean cuisine Bonus: All chicken items are halal

AMP Studio Cafe
Location:
154 Oakwood Ave, Toronto ON M6E 2T9
Main focus: Caribbean foods & coffee
Bonus: Hosts events & live music sessions, poetry slams, workshops

Bu’na: The Soul Of Coffee
Location:
1176 Queen St W, Toronto ON M6J 1J5
Main focus: Appreciation of Ethiopian coffee culture
Bonus: Freshly roasted beans available for purchase

Congo Coffee and Mikate House
Location:
298 Gerrard St E, Toronto ON M5A 2G7
Main focus: Congolese coffee & beignets
Bonus: Coffee beans available for purchase

The Loveless Cafe
Location:
1430 Dundas St W, Toronto ON M6J 1Y5
Main focus: Sofas/armchairs to read books!
Bonus: Host print sales for artists

Black Self Care Business Highlight

Camria Beauty
Skin & haircare, based on Toronto!
IG: @camriabeauty

That Good Good Shea
Body care solutions for various skin needs!
IG: @thatgoodgoodshea

Madeup Beauty
Affordable makeup, available at Shoppers; inclusive shade ranges & part of proceeds are donated to a different cause every month!
IG: @madeupbeauty_

LYS Beauty
Wide shade range, available at Sephora. Best known for their bronzers. Vegan & cruelty-free.
IG: @lysbeautyofficial

BLACK-OWNED bookstores

A DIFFERENT BOOKLIST
779 Bathurst Street
African Canadian-owned bookstore specializing in literature from the Caribbean diaspora and Global South!

NILE VALLEY BOOKS
1921 Gerrard Street East
For over 35 years, Nile Valley Books has been committed to ensuring that children & young adults have access to afro-centric books.

KNOWLEDGE BOOKSTORE
177 Queen Street West
Independent bookstore offering more than just literature! Black dolls, greeting cards, DVDs, beauty products and gifts are available for purchase.

MANIFEST BOOKSTORE
45 Overlea Blvd unit 113
Independently-owned African Caribbean Bookstore; sells children’s literature, modern fiction, true crime, cook books, foreign language titles and religious books.